Reading these Meditations we discover with surprise how much spiritual
food is obtainable from a study of the lessons and liturgy of Advent.
Mother St. Paul is always a heart-searcher. She presses self-reform upon
souls, who to the eye of outward observers and perhaps in their own
conceit, have little or nothing to amend. We must always be following
Christ, and Christ is ever moving forward. Deliberately to stand still
is to widen the distance between ourselves and Him, an ungenerous, not
to say a dangerous thing to do. What are called here Meditations may
well be taken for daily spiritual reading in preparation for Christmas.
Advent after all is a season of joy, and these Meditations must be taken
in a joyful spirit. Courage and enthusiasm in the cause of Christ is the
supreme need of all Catholics who really _love His coming_. (2 Tim. IV.
8)